Influence of Feeding Panicum Maximum Supplemented With Wheat Offal on the Carcass Characteristics of West African Dwarf Goat

Ifut, O. J.,* Inyang, U. A., Akpan, U. B. and Ekanem, N. J.

Department Animal Science, University of Uyo, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: (dr.okonifut@gmail.com)

Accepted 18 January 2014

Abstract

Data from 16 West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks aged 6 – 9 months and weighing 6 – 6.5 kg were used to evaluate the effect of feeding Panicum maximumsupplemented with wheat offal on their carcass yield. Four goats were randomly assigned to each of four diets: T1 – Panicum maximumad libitum (sole diet), T2 –Panicum maximumad libitum + 200 g wheat offal, T3 - Panicum maximumad libitum + 225 g wheat offal and T4 - Panicum maximumad libitum + 250 g wheat offal. The experiment lasted 90 days. Data were collected on linear measurements, carcass weights and carcass quality, offal yields and wholesale cuts. Animals on diet T1recorded the highest linear parameters of 38.00cm, 16.00cm and 20.67cm for body length (BL), heart girth (HG) and neck circumference (NC) respectively. This was significantly (P<0.05) different from the supplemented groups for BL and HG, while neck length (NL) and NC were not significant (P>0.05). The carcass weights of animals on T1 were significantly different (P<0.05) from those on T3 with 8.33 kg, 3.07 kg and 36.85 % for slaughter weight, dressed weight and dressing percentage respectively. While there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the dressing percentage between animals on T1 and T3, those on T3 recorded a numerically higher dressing percentage of 40.00 % compared to 36.85 % for those on T1. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in carcass quality. Goats on T1 had the highest significant (P<0.05) whole cut and offal sale values except in loin, towel and liver. Supplementation of Panicum maximum with wheat offal at 225 g is recommended for optimum growth of WAD bucks.